EXPOSURE AND PARTICIPANT MODELING IN A CASE OF INJECTION PHOBIA

Background: From the literature it appears that there may be two types of injection phobia, (1) the 'vasovagal' type, and (2) the 'resistant ' type. The first type is characterized by a diphasic cardiovascular r esponse during or after injection and by a tendency to react in a pass ive, nonresisting way when injected. The second type is characterized by strong, sometimes violent resistance and no vasovagal reaction to a n injection. Characteristics of blood injury phobia apply to the first type, but not to the second. The possibility is considered that expos ure may be an effective treatment in the first type, and participant m odelling in the second type. Method: A single case study was carried o ut with a case of injection phobia of the second type in which exposur e with modelling, followed by participant modelling of the injection, was applied. Measures of state anxiety (STAI) and heart rate were obta ined. Results: According to expectation, participant modelling of inje ctions was effective in eliminating the fear of injections in a patien t of the second type of injection phobia. Conclusions: The results of this study warrant further investigation of the model in a group desig n in which the differential treatment effects of exposure and particip ant modelling are tested.